Press for cotton, wool, hay, &amp;c.



No. 673,544. Patented 'May 7, l90l.

- J. M. KING. PRESS FOR-aCOTTONfWOUL, HAY, 8L0.

(Application filed May 22. 1900.)

6 Sheets-Shaet I.

(No Model.)

wi/limwoeo m: NORRIS FETERS cu. mow-mm. msumamm r No. 673,544. IPatented May 7, 1901:.

. J; M. K'ING.

PRESS FpR COTTON, WOOL HAY, &c. =App1icati0n filed May 22. 1900.; (NoMqdel.) 6 Sheets8hoet 2.

No. 673,544. Patented May'7, l90l. J. M. K|NG.

PRESS FOR COTTON, WOOL, HAY, 8w.

. (Application filgd May 22; 1900.} (No ModelJ 6 Sheetg-Sheet '7/lmibmmeo No. 673,544. Patented May 7, I901,

I 4. KING.

PRESS FOR COTTON, WOOL, HAY, 8w.

(Applicatiop filed May 22. 1900.) (No Model.) 6 Sheets-Sheet 4.

\ No. 673,544.. Patented May 7, 19m.

J. M. KING.

PRESS FUR COTTON, WOOL, HAY, 81.6.

(Application filed. Ma.y 22. 1900.) (No Model.) 6 Sheets-Shaet 5.

- mums vc-rzns co. ['HOTOJJTHD msumomu. I; c,

No. 673,544. Patented May 7, l90l.

J. M. KlNG.

PRESS FUR COTTON, WOOL, HA'Y, 6w.

(Application filed mi 22. 1900. (No Model.) 6 Sheets-Sheet 67 66 fl is,7

UNITED STATES FFICE.

:ATENT JOHN MORRIS KING, OF WACO, TEXAS, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-FOURTH TO JOHNBALIE FINKS, OF FORT WORTH, TEXAS.

PRESS FOR COTTON, WOOL, HAY, aw.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 673,544, dated May 7,1901.

Application filed May 22, 1900.

"[ (M whom it may concern..-

Be it known that I, JOHN MoRRIs KING, a. citizen of the United States,residing at Waco, in the county of McLennan and State of Texas,

*5 have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Presses forOotton,Wool, Hay, Hair, &c., of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in presses for cotton, wool, hair,&c., and has for its object to provide a press which will compress thecotton or other material into bales of hexagon, cylindrical, or othershapes, the shape of the bale corresponding with the shape of thebale-receptacle used. I preferably make my bales of hexagon shape tobetter adapt them to be stored compactly in "ships, warehouses, andother places, and thus economize space; also, to vary the compression ordensity of the cotton or other material to any desired degree, tocompress it so that it will not be damaged, and so evenly and compactlythat there will be no necessity for recompressing before shipment andwhich will not expand to any considerable degree after its arrival atits destination.

It to rther has for its object to provide a press that is simple andinexpensive in construction, effective in operation, and which isadapted to be operated at very little expense.

My invention consists in the construction, combination, and arrangementof the several :parts, as hereinafter more fully described and claimed.

Referring to the drawings which illustrate my invention, Figure 1 is atop plan view; Fig. 2, a side view in elevation; Fig. 3, a centrallongitudinal section, partly in elevation; Fig. 4, a cross-section online a: 00 of Fig. 3; Fig. 5, a top plan view of the body of the presswith the top feed-plate broken away; Fig. 6, a cross-section on line y yof Fig. 3; Figs.7 and 8, side views,partly in section,of thebale-receptacle; Fig. 9, an enlargedsectional view of the automaticcut-0E mechanism and the friction-clutch of the lower driving-shaft;Figs. 10 and 11, detail top plan views of the trip-arms; Fig. 12, adetail sectional view of the lower end of the compress-screw; Fig. 13,an enlarged detail perspective view of one of the slidable plates; Fig.14, an enlarged per- Serial No. 17.595. (No model.)

spective view of one of the severing-fingers; Fig. 15, a top plan viewof the bale-supporting plate; Fig. 16, an enlarged side view of one ofthe brackets for holding the bale; Fig. 17, a top plan view of one ofthe pivoted arms by means of which the bale and bale-receptacle areswung laterally after the bale hasbeen compressed; Fig. 18, a bottomplan view of the sleeve for supporting the bale-recep- 6o tacle; Fig.19, a central vertical section of the same; Fig. 20, a top plan view ofthe bottom ring of the bale-receptacle; Fig. 21, a perspective view ofthe removable handle for operating the cam-sleeve; Fig. 22, a side viewin elevation of the completed bale, and Fig.

23 a top plan view of the same.

In the drawings, in which like numerals denote like parts throughout theseveral views,

1 represents a suitable framework, provided with uprights 2 at one, endand which is mountedon a foundation of brick, stone, or other suitablematerial.

The frame of the press proper consists of a base-plate 3, mounted on theframework 1 and provided with an upwardly-projecting hub 4, a top or capplate 5, and two intermediate plates 6 and 7, supported at the cornersby posts 8, rising from the said base-plate.

9 is a bevel gear-wheel provided with an internally-screw-threadedsleeve 10, which revolves in the hub 4 of the base-plate.

11 represents suitable roller-bearings interposed between the bevelgear-wheel and the hub of the base-plate. The plate 6 is provided withan annular recess 6, pins or lugs 6 a central opening 6, and dovetailslots 6. The plate 7 is provided with an upwardlyprojecting hub 12,having guide pins or screws 13, having heads 14 projecting outwardly andends 15 projecting inwardly from the same.

l4 is a cam-sleeve mounted and adapted to slide up and down and rotateon the outside of hub 12 of plate 7, said cam-sleeve provided at the topwith an inner annular flange 15 5 and in the body thereof with holes 16and with inclined cam-slots l7 and 18, which engage and slide on theheads 14 of the screws 13.

19 is the sleeve which supports the balereceptacle and which is providedwith a flange 20 at the top, the upper surface of which is provided withrecesses 21 and vertical grooves 22 and 23 on its opposite sides, intowhich the inner ends 15 of screws 13 extend. .The sleeve 19 is mountedin the inside of the hub 12 and adapted to move vertically therein, andits flange 2O rests on the top of the flange 15 of the cam-sleeve 14.

24 is the bale-compressing chamber or receptacle, which is provided withbottom and top rings 25 and 26, the lower portion of the bottom ring 25having a downwardly-depending flange 27, an annular shoulder 23, andpins or lugs 29, and the upper portion having formed thereon an annularrecess 30, having a series of radial slots for the bale-tie wires, anupwardly-projecting flange 31, having a series of slots 32 in its edge,and a lug 33, depending downwardly from the periphery of said flange 31.The top ring 26 is provided with a downwardly-depending flange 34,having a series of slots 35 in its edge, an annular recess 36, with aseries of radial dovetail slots 37, which extend through the flange 34,and

. also with holes 38, a series of slots 39 in its upper surface, and aseries of radial slots in its inner periphery for the bale-tie wires.The said top ring 26 is adapted when moved upward to be seated in therecess 6 of the plate 6 and the holes 38 thereof to engage the pins 6 ofplate 6, and thereby hold the top ring securelyin place. The recess 6 inplate 6 has the revoluble feed-plate 48 seated therein.

40 represents a series of staves or slats, each provided on its innersurface with a longitudinal groove for the bale-tie wire and on itsouter surface with a strip 41 of metal or other material, provided witha lug 42 and having its lower end bent outward to form a lip 43,

its upper end bent to form a shoulder 44 and terminating in anupwardly-projecting lip 45.

The lower ends of the slats or staves are adapted to be seated in theannular recess 30 of the bottom ring 25 of the bale-compressingreceptacle, and the lips 47 of the strips 45 are adapted to be seated inthe slots 32 of the flange of the said ring 25. The upper ends of theslats or staves are adapted to be seated in the annular recess 36 of thetop ring 26 of the bale-compressing receptacle and the upper ends of thestrips 41 in the slots 35 and the lips 45 thereof to engage the outersurface of said top ring 26.

46 and 47 are bands provided with pivoted latches and locking-pins. Theband 46 rests on top of the flange 31 of the ring 25 and also engagesthe lips 43 of the strips 41 and encircles the staves 40 and holds themsecurely at the bottom. The band 47 encircles the staves 40 between thelugs 42 and the shoulders 44 and holds them together at the top. Theband 47 is not put on until the bale has been formed and is ready to beremoved.

48 is a revoluble feed-plate provided with a bevel-gear on its uppersurface and cams 49 on its lower surface, said feed-plate provided withacentral opening 49, divided by partitions 50 into a series of angularfeedslots 51, which slant downward from the opening 49. Thenumber ofthese feed-slots may be increased or diminished, as desired.

52 is a conical'projection extending downward from the center of thefeed-plate 48, which prevents the cotton from forming too compactly inthe center of the bale, and thus leaving an opening through the centerof the bale from end to end, which facilitates the tying of the bale.

I have shown the conical projection 52 as formed integral with thefeed-plate; but it may be formed on a separate plate and said platefastened to the bottom surface of the feed-plate, so that in case ofwear a new plate and projection could be substituted.

53 represents suitable roller-bearings. V

54is a feed-wheel provided with blades 55 and mounted and adapted to berotated on a screw or pin 56 in the flaring opening 57 of the cap or topplate 5, said blades 55 being adapted to be engaged by the partitions 50of the revoluble feed-plate 48 one at a time, and thereby rotatethewheel 54 and cause the blades to assist in forcing the cotton into thefeed-slots 51.

58 represents series of brackets each having a hook 59 and an arm 60.Said brackets are hung on the band 46 between the staves or slats 40 bymeans of the hooks 59.

61 is the bale-supporting plate, which is provided with a centralopening 62, two holes 63, and a number of radial slots 64, saidbaleplate being corrugated or roughened on its upper surface for thepurpose of holding the cotton and preventing its revolving with thefeed-plate.

65 is the compressing-plunger, having a screw 65, which is mounted inthe sleeve 10 of the bevel-gear 9 and providedwith a head 66, carryingsaid bale-supporting plate, and having radial slots 67 and a centralhole 68 for the purpose of receiving the cone-shaped projection 52 ofthe feed-plate 48.

69 represents pins or lugs on the top of the head 66, which are adaptedto engage the holes 63 of the bale-supporting plate 61, and 70 aguide-plate at the lower end of the screw 65 of the saidcompressing-plunger.

71 is a downwardly-extending bracket secured to the framework 1 andprovided with vertical slots 72, in which the opposite ends of the saidguide-plate engage and slide.

73 is a Vertically-sliding rod, the upper end mounted in the base-plate3 and the lower end in an arm 74, secured to the lower end of thebracket 71.

75 and 76 are'upper and lower trip-arms secured to the rod 73 byset-screws.

77 is a bell-crank lever pivoted to a plate 78 on the bracket 71 and onearm of which is pivot-ed to a link 79, pivoted to the rod 73, and theopposite end pivoted to a horizontal lever 80, which is connected to avertical lever 81, having a forked upper end 82.

83 is a hand-lever.

84 is the lower driving-shaft of the press, mounted in suitable bearingsand provided IIO with a pinion 85, which engages the bevelgear 9, andlarge and small band or pulley wheels 86 and 87, having suitablefrictionclutches 88 and 89, respectively.

90 is a cone-sleeve splined to the drive-shaft 84, to which the forkedend 82 of the lever 81 is attached, said cone-sleeve adapted to be slidlaterally by the hand-lever 8-3 or lever 81 and engage thefriction-clutch of either of the band-wheels 86 or 87.

91 is the upper drive-shaft of the press, mounted in suitable bearingsand provided with a pinion 92,which engages with the bevelgear of therevoluble feed-plate 48.

93 and 94 are large and small pulley-wheels mounted on shaft 91.

95 is a friction-clutch, and 96 a forked handlever pivoted to thebracket 97, secured to the plate 6, and 98 a cone-sleeve adapted to beslid laterally by the hand-lever 96 and engage the friction-clutch 95.

99 and 100 are belts which connect the pulley-wheels of the upper andlower drive-shafts and communicate motion from one to the other.

101 represents severing-fingers, each provided with a dovetail-shapedhead 102, having a point 103 and a shoulder 104. Said severing-fingersare adapted to be inserted in the dovetail slots 6 of the plate 6 andthe shoulders 104 thereof to be engaged by the band 47.

105 represents slidable plates,dovetail shape in cross-section, eachhaving a pin or lug 106 on its upper surface and a lug 107 on its innerend and a downwardly-depending fingerpiece 108 on its lower surface.Said plates are inserted in the dovetail slots 6 of plate 6 and areadapted to be engaged by the earns 49 of the feed-plate 48 as itrevolves and be moved in ward and drive the points of thesevering-fingers over the top of the bale.

109 represents semicircular arms, each pivoted to an adjustable bracket110, secured by a set-screw to one of the posts 8 and provided withaslot 111. These brackets are adapted to be moved up and down to providefor different lengths of bale-receptacles. The arms 109 are adapted toengage the shoulder 28 of the bottom ring 25 and sustain thebale-receptacle after the bale has been completed and the same islowered and to swing it laterally out of the press. The slot 111 is forthe purpose of receiving the lug 33 of the ring 25 and securing thebale-receptacle to the said arm.

112 is a removable handle which is adapted to be inserted in any one ofthe holes 16 of the cam-sleeve and by which the cam-sleeve is revolved.

113 is the drive-belt of the press.

114 is the bale, and 115 represents the baleties.

Although I have shown the bale with a hole through the center, producedby providing the conical project-ion on the feed-plate and feeding thecotton into the bale-receptacle in spiral layers directly onto the headof the compressing-plunger, the conical projection may be reduced insize or dispensed with entirely and the bale made solid, and instead ofthe wire bale-ties iron bands or other ties may be used.

Two bale-receptacles and two pivoted arms for swinging said receptacleslaterally are shown; but any number may be used. By constructing thecompressing-receptacle of slats or staves with spaces between the samethe air is allowed to escape from the bale more readily than if it werecompressed in a solid receptacle. The longitudinal slots in the innersurface of the slats are adapted not only to accommodate the tie-wires,but also to provide means for the escape of air from the bale. The sizeof the bale may be increased or diminished by increasing or diminishingthe size of the bale-receptacle, and the density of the bale may bevaried by iu= creasing or decreasing the speed of the downward movementof the compression-plunger by controlling the speed of the lowerdriveshaft.

The compressing-plunger is shown in the drawings provided with a screwoperated by a gear-wheel; but other means may be employed, if founddesirable.

I do not wish to be limited to the exact construction as herein shownand described, as the same may be varied somewhat without departing fromthe spirit of my invention.

The operation of the press is as follows: Assuming that thecompressing-plunger is down at its lowest limit, as shown in thedrawings, with the cone-sleeve 90 on the lower drive-shaft 84 midwaybetween the frictionclutches 88 and 89, the hand-lever 83 is moved tothe left, which causes the said cone-sleeve to engage thefriction-clutch 89 on the small pulley-wheel, and thereby operates theshaft 84, which communicates motion to the gear 9, and thereby causesthe compressing-plunger, with its head 66 and the bale-plate 61, toascend, and when said plunger has reached its highest limit or inproximity to the under side of the cap-plate it is automatically stoppedand the conical projection of the feed-plate is seated in the hole 68 insaid head, and the hand-lever 96 is moved to the left, which causes thecone-sleeve 98 to engage the clutch 95 of the pulley-wheel 93, andthereby impart motion to the upper drive-shaft 91 and to the pinion 92,which revolves the feedplate 48 and imparts motion to the feed-wheel 54by the partitions engaging the blades 50 of the said feed-wheel. A smallquantity of cotton is first placed in the press on the baleplate on topof the head of the compressing-plunger, and then cotton is fed into thegin and passes through the condenser and falls into the hopper of thepress, preferably in broken sections, although it maybe in a continuousbat. The feed-wheel forces the cotton-bat down into the slots of thefeedplate, and as soon as this cotton-bat comes TIO &

in contact with the cotton already placed in the press it will tend todraw said bat through the slots in the said feed-plate and cause it tobe deposited in a spiral layer directly onto the head of thecompressing-plunger, and thus adds successive increments to thepreviously-introduced material and forces the subjacent column ofcompressed materialdownward in the bale-receptacle. Said plunger recedesdownward at a speed regulated by the speed of the lower drive-shaft,which is controlled by the operator according to the density desired forthe bale,and when the top of the bale-plate 61 reaches a point on alevel with the upper plane of the arms of the brackets 58 the bale willbe caught and held on the top of said arms 60. This downward movement ofthe compressing-plunger continues until the guide-plate comes in contactwith the lower trip-arm 76, which will move therod 73 downward, and thusautomatically throw the cone-sleeve out of engagement with thefriction-cl utch 88 and stop the operation of the com pressing-plunger.The dirks 101 and the plungers 105 are thefi inserted in the slots 6 ofthe plate 6, and the upper drive-shaft still being in operation andoperating the revolving feed-plate the two cams 49 of the same come incontact with two of the plungers 105, and thus simultaneously move theminward two at a time, and they in turn drive the points 103 of the dirks101 over the top of the cotton-bale. The top band 47 is then applied andlocked to the bale-receptacle, with its lower edge resting on theshoulders 104: of the said dirks. The camsleeve 14; is then revolved andmoved downwardly by means of the handle 112 and the bale-receptacle 24thereby lowered until the top ring 26 thereof clears the bottom of theplate 6 and the bottom ring 25 rests upon the pivoted arm 109. Said armis then swung out laterally and the bale tied, the bale-receptacle takenapart, and the bale removed. A sec- 0nd bale-receptacle, which restsupon another pivoted arm and was assembled while the first bale wasforming, is swung into place, and the press is again started by throwingthe cone-sleeve 90 into engagement with the clutch 89 of the smallpulley-wheel on the lower drive-shaft, and the com pressing-plungeragain ascends until the guide-plate 72 engages the upper trip-arm 75,when the rod 73 will be moved upward, which will automatically throw thecone-sleeve 90 out of engagement with the friction-clutch 89 and stopthe operation of the compressing-plunger. This avoids any possibility ofinjury to the press, which would occur if the compressing-plunger wereadapted to be stopped by means of a hand-lever only and the operatorshould forget to operate it at the proper time. If it should be foundthat the compressing-plunger is descending too rapidly to form a bale ofproper density,it can be stopped by disen gaging the cone-sleeve 90 fromthe clutch 88 by means of the hand-lever 83 and allow the plunger toremain stationary until the bale has been brought up to the proper ordesired density, when the cone-sleeve can be again thrown intoengagement with the clutch and the plunger continue its downwardmovement, as before.

Having thus described my invention,what I claim is 1. In a 'cotton orother press a bale-recep tacle, a compressing-plunger and means foroperating the same, a rotary feed-plate having a series of partitionswith feed-openings between the same, and means engaged and actuated bythe partitions of said feed-plate for forcing the cotton or othermaterial through said feed-openings, substantially as shown anddescribed.

2. In a cotton or other press, a bale-receptacle, a compressing-plunger, a cap-plate provided with an opening, a rotaryslotted feedplate below said cap-plate adapted to deliver cotton orother material onto the head of said plunger in said receptacle, arotaryfeed-wheel having a series of blades and mounted in the opening of saidcap-plate for forcing said material into the slotted feed-plate, saidfeedplate engaging the blades of the feed-wheel and thereby rotating thesame, substantially as shown and described.

3. In a cotton or other press a bale-receptacle, a series of removablebrackets for engaging the lower end of the bale, and means in connectionwith said receptacle for supporting and retaining said brackets inplace, in combination with a plunger provided with a bale-supportingplate on its face and having slots in its edge for the passage of thebrackets, substantially as shown and described.

et. In a cotton or other press, a top or cap plate provided with afeed-opening, a feedwheel mounted in said opening and provided withblades, and means to engage the said blades and thereby rotate the saidfeed-wheel, substantially as shown and described.

5. In a cotton or other press a top or cap plate having an opening, afeed-wheel mounted therein provided with blades the rear edges of whichare shaped to conform to the con tour or walls of said opening, andmeans for rotating said feed wheel, substantially as shown anddescribed.

6. In a cotton or other press, a top or cap plate provided with anopening, a feed-wheel having blades mounted in said opening, a revolublefeed-plate adapted to engage said blades and rotate said feed-wheel,substantially as shown and described.

7. In a cotton or other press a series of severing-fingers each providedwith a body portion, a shoulder on the rear side, and a pointed head atthe top thereof projecting beyond said body portion, substantially asshown and described. v

8. In a cotton or other press, a bale-receptacle and a cam-sleevecarrying said receptacle adapted to raise it into operative position andlower it for the purpose of removal, and means For supporting said.cam-sleeve, substantially as shown and described.

9. In a cotton or other press, a bale-receptacle, a cam-sleeve carryingsaid receptacle adapted to raise it into operative position and lower itfor the purpose of removal, means for supporting the cam-sleeve, and aremovable handle for operating the cam-sleeve, substantially as shownand described.

10. In acotton or other press, means for swinging the bale-receptaclelaterally consisting of a curved arm adapted to embrace said receptacle,said arm pivoted to an adjustable bracket, and means'for securing saidbracket to the press, substantially as shown and described.

11. In a cotton or other press, a frame a curved arm pivoted theretohaving a slot, a bale-receptacle provided with a depending lug adaptedto engage said slot and secure said bale-receptacle to the arm, said armadapted to swing said bale-receptacle laterally, substantially as shownand described.

12. In a cotton or other press a plunger provided with a screw having aguide-plate at its lower end, a dependingbracket provided with a plate,a bell-crank lever pivoted on said plate, a sliding rod provided withupper and lower trip-arms, a link connecting said lever to the slidingrod, a shaft for operating the said plunger provided with clutches and asleeve,'a vertical lever adapted to operate said sleeve and engage saidclutches, and a lever connecting said vertical lever to the bell-cranklever, substantially as shown and described.

13. In a cotton or other press, a bale-recep-' tacle, a bale-supportingplate having holes, and a plunger provided with a head having lugsadapted to engage the holes in the said bale-plate and hold the samesecurely in place on the top of the plunger, substantially as shown anddescribed.

14. In a cotton or other press, a bale-receptacle, a bale-supportingplate with holes, a plunger provided with a head having lugs to engagesaid holes, and a recess, and a revoluble feed-plate provided with adepending projection adapted to engage said recess, substantially asshown and described.

15. In a cotton or other press, aslatted balereceptacle provided with aband at its lower end, and a series of brackets each with a hook on oneend and an arm on the opposite end, and a bale supporting plate, saidhooks adapted to be hooked over said band, and said arms to support thebale, substantially as shown and described.-

16. In a cotton or other press, a plate having a recess, abale-receptacle, the upper end .of which is adapted to be seated in saidrecess by moving said bale-receptacle upward, .and a cam-sleeve foroperating said balereceptacle, substantially as shown and described.

17. In a cotton or other press, a plate having a recess, a plate havinga hub, a vertically-movable sleeve in said hub, a bale-receptaclesupported on said sleeve, and means for moving said sleeve andbale-receptacle, substantially as shown and described.

18. In a cotton or other press, an upper plate havinga recess, a lowerplate having a hub, a cam-sleeve on the outside of said hub with a flange adapted to rest on the top thereof, a movable sleeve onthe inside ofsaid hub having a flange adapted to rest on the flange of saidadjustable sleeve, and a bale-receptacle adapted to be supported on saidadj ustable sleeve, and be moved up and down by means of saidcam-sleeve, substantially as shown and described.

19. In a cotton or other press, a bale-receptacle provided with a lug, acurved arm pivoted on an adjustable bracket and adapted to support andswing said receptacle laterally, and a slot in said arm adapted to beengaged by said lug, substantially as shown and described.

20. In a cotton or other press, a frame having upper andlowerdrive-shafts, a revoluble feed-plate geared to said upper drive-shaft, abale-receptacle, a curved pivoted arm adapted to embrace and swing saidbale-receptacle laterally, a compressing-plunger, means for connectingsaid plunger withthe lower driveshaft, and means for operating the same,substantially as shown and described.

21. I11 a cotton or otherpress, a bale-receptacle provided with upperand lower rings, slats having strips provided with a shoulder and a lipat their upper ends, and a lip at their lower ends, and a lug, a bandadapted to encircle the bale-receptacle between the said shoulders andlugs at the upper ends of the slats, and a band adapted to encircle thebale-receptacle and rest on top of the lips at the lower ends of theslats, substantiallyas shown and described.

22. In a cotton or other press, a bale-supporting plate provided withradial slotsin its edge through which the arms of the bale-supportingbrackets are adapted to pass, a central opening to receive theprojection of the feed-plate, and holes to receive the lugs on the headof the plunger, substantially as shown and described.

23. In a cotton or other press, a series of brackets for sustaining thebale, one end provided with a downwardly-projecting hook and theopposite end with a rearwardly-extending arm, substantially as shown anddescribed.

24. In a cotton or other press, a bale-receptacle, a band for encirclingsaid receptacle, a series of brackets one end provided with a hookadapted to engage said band, and the opposite end provided with arearwardly-extending arm adapted to sustain a bale, substantially asshown and described.

2.5. In acotton or other press, a plate at the for insertion between theslats each provided with a hook at one end to engage said band and withan arm on the opposite end to sustain a bale, substantially as shown anddescribed.

26. In a cotton or other press, a cap-plate provided with a feed-wheel,a rotary feedplate below the same having a series of .feedslots and aseries of partitions, said partitions adapted to engage said feed-wheeland rotate it, substantially as shown and de scribed.

27. In a cotton or other press, a bale-receptacle, means for swingingsaid bale-receptacle laterally, and a cam-sleeve for raising saidreceptacle into operative position, and for lowering the same to permitof its removal, and means for supporting said cam-sleeve, substantiallyas shown and described.

28. In a cotton or other press, a series of. severing-fingers, aseriesof sliding plates each 1 provided with a lug on the upper surface hav- 1ing a beveled edge, a pin or ing on the end,

and a finger-piece on the lower surface, and? means for operating saidsliding plates for: actuating said severing-fingers, substantially asshown and described.

upper surface having a beveled edge, and

a revoluble plate provided with stationarycams, adapted to engage thebeveled edge of each of the lugs of the sliding plates and drive saidsliding plates together with the severing-fingers inward, substantiallyas shown and described.

30. In a cotton or other press, a bale-receptacle, acompressing-plunger, "a plate at the upper portion of said press havinga recess to receive the upper end of the bale-receptacle, and means forseating said receptacle therein, a top or cap plate, a revolublefeed-plate between said plates provided with feed-opeuings fordelivering cotton or other material onto the head of saidcompressing-plunger, substantially as shown and described.

3]. In a cotton or other press a top or cap plate provided with anopening therethrough, a feed-wheel mounted to rotate in a vertical planein said opening and provided with blades, and a revoluble feed-plateadapted to engage said blades and rotate said feed-wheel, substantiallyas shown and described.

32. In a cottonor other press, a top or cap plate provided with anopening thereth rough, a feed-wheel mounted to rotate in a verticalplane in said opening and provided with blades having curved rear edges,and a revoluble feed-plate adapted to engage said blades land rotatesaid feed-wheel, substantially as shown and described.

In a cottonor other press, a bale-receptacle, a plate at the upperport-ion of said press having a recess to receive the'upper end of thebale-receptacle, and means for moving said bale-receptacle upward andseating and holding it in said recess,'substantially as shown anddescribed.

34. In a cotton or other press, a plate at the lower end thereofprovided with a hub having pins, a sleeve on the outside of said hubprovided with cam-slots with which said pins are adapted to engage, asleeve on the inside of said hub, a bale-receptacle supported on saidsleeve, and means for operating said sleeve and bale-receptacle,substantially as shown and described.

35. In a cotton or other press, a plate at the lower end having a hub, acam-sleeve on the outside thereof, a movable sleeve on the inside ofsaid hub, a balereceptacle provided with a ring at its lower end whichrests on top of the movable sleeve and is provided with a flange, and anarm adapted to engage the said flange and swing said bale-receptaclelaterally, substantially as shown and described.

36. In a cotton or other press aplate at the lower end thereof providedwith a hub having screws or lugs, a sleeve on the inside of said hubprovided with grooves with which said screws engage, a bale-receptacleon said sleeve, a cam-sleeve on the outside of said hub adapted tooperate the sleeve on the inside thereof and raise and lower thebale-receptacle, and means for operating said cam.-

sleeve, substantially as shown and described.

37. In a cotton or other press, a plate at the lower end thereofprovided with a hub having plus, a sleeve on the outside of said hubprovided with cam-slots with which said pins are adapted to engage, anda flange, asleeve on the inside of said hub provided with aflangeadapted to rest on top of the flange of the camsleeve, in combinationwith a bale-receptacle provided with a ring at its lower end adapted torest on the flange of the sleeve in the inside of said hub, and meansfor operating said sleeve and bale-receptacle, substantially as shownand described.

38. In a cotton or other press, a plate at the top thereof provided witha series of slots, each having a sliding plate therein provided with apin or lug on the end, a finger-piece on the lower surface, a lug on theupper surface, and means to engage said lugs and operate said plates,substantially as shown and described.

In testimony whereof I hereto aifix mysignature in the presence of twowitnesses.

JOHN MORRIS KING.

Witnesses:

M. B. DAVIS, Ross BATTLE.

